Mike German, Baron German Contents Biography Political career References External links Offices...
Rhodri MorganLabourIeuan Wyn JonesPlaid CymruNick BourneConservativeMike GermanLiberal DemocratsAddingtonGlasgowOxford & AsquithThurso
1945 birthsLiving peopleLiberal Democrat Members of the National Assembly for WalesWales AMs 1999–2003Wales AMs 2003–07Wales AMs 2007–11Leaders of political parties in WalesOfficers of the Order of the British EmpireCouncillors in CardiffAlumni of the Open UniversityMembers of the Welsh Assembly GovernmentLiberal Democrats (UK) life peers
OBEHouse of LordsNational Assembly for WalesSouth Wales EastWelsh Liberal DemocratsOBEOpen UniversitySt Mary’s Collegemusic teacherWelsh Joint Education Committeeschool governorCardiff City CouncilNational Assembly for WalesOrder of the British EmpireCardiff NorthOctober 19741979LiberalsCardiff Central19831987SDP–Liberal AllianceLabour-Liberal Democrat coalitionDeputy First MinisterWJECJenny RandersonDeputy First MinisterWelsh Liberal DemocratsLembit OpikKirsty Williamssmall and large companies in Walesconstitutional affairslocal governmenteconomyHouse of LordsDissolution HonoursVeronicaTorfaenparty list
The Right Honourable The Lord German OBE | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Deputy First Minister for Wales | |
In office 13 June 2002 – 8 May 2003 | |
| First Minister | Rhodri Morgan |
| Preceded by | Jenny Randerson (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Ieuan Wyn Jones (2007) |
In office 16 October 2000 – 6 July 2001 | |
| First Minister | Rhodri Morgan |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Jenny Randerson (Acting) |
| Member of the Welsh Assembly for South Wales East | |
In office 6 May 1999 – 30 June 2010 | |
| Preceded by | New Assembly |
| Succeeded by | Veronica German |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1945-05-08) 8 May 1945 Cardiff, Wales |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Spouse(s) | Veronica German |
| Alma mater | Open University |
Michael James "Mike" German, Baron German, OBE (born 8 May 1945) is a British politician, serving currently as a member of the House of Lords and formerly as a member of the National Assembly for Wales for the South Wales East region. He was leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats from 2007 to 2008. In 1996, he was awarded an OBE for his public and political service.
Contents
1 Biography
2 Political career
3 References
4 External links
5 Offices held
Biography
German was educated at the Open University and St Mary’s College. In his early life he was a member of 28th Cardiff Sea Scout Group.
He trained and worked as a music teacher before becoming Head of the European Unit at the Welsh Joint Education Committee. Has also been a school governor.
Political career
His political career spans over three decades, as councillor and Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats on Cardiff City Council between 1983–1996 and joint leader of the Council from 1987 to 1991; he was elected to the National Assembly for Wales in 1999 and re-elected in 2003 and 2007.
In the 1996 New Year's Honours he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[1]
He contested Cardiff North in October 1974 and 1979 for the Liberals, before fighting Cardiff Central in 1983 and 1987 for the SDP–Liberal Alliance, but was unsuccessful on each occasion.
Under a Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition he became Deputy First Minister 2000-01 (and Economic Development Secretary)[2] and again in 2002-03 (and Minister for Rural Affairs and Wales Abroad). He stepped down from the role of Deputy First Minister between the two dates to answer allegations made about his role at the Welsh examination board, the WJEC. During this period he was temporarily replaced by Jenny Randerson as Acting Deputy First Minister.
In November 2007, Mike German became leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, after Lembit Opik stood down to ensure that the leadership of the party was in the National Assembly and not Westminster. He was succeeded by Kirsty Williams.
German's political interests include skills development in small and large companies in Wales, constitutional affairs, local government, economy and regeneration.
In May 2010, German was named to the House of Lords as a 'working peer' in the Dissolution Honours list.[3] He was succeeded to the Assembly in June 2010 by his wife, Veronica, a Torfaen councillor, as she was the next candidate on the regional party list in 2007.[4][5] German took his seat as Baron German, of Llanfrechfa in the County Borough of Torfaen.[6]
References
^ "No. 54255". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1995. p. 11..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/969584.stm
^ "Dissolution list". BBC News. 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
^ "Mike German made working peer in House of Lords". BBC Wales. 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
^ "Ex-Gwent AM becomes a lord". South Wales Argus. 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
^ "No. 59474". The London Gazette. 29 June 2010. p. 12259.
External links
- Michael German AM website
Michael German AM official biography at the National Assembly for Wales website- Welsh Liberal Democrats website
- Official biography at House of Lords
Offices held
National Assembly for Wales | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by (new post) | Assembly Member for South Wales East 1999 – 2010 | Succeeded by Veronica German |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by (new post) | Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the National Assembly 1999 – 2008 | Succeeded by Kirsty Williams |
| Preceded by Lembit Opik | Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats 2007 – 2008 | Succeeded by Kirsty Williams |
| Preceded by (new post) | Deputy First Minister for Wales 2000 – 2001 | Succeeded by Jenny Randerson (Acting) |
| Preceded by Rhodri Morgan | Minister for Economic Development 2000 – 2001 | Succeeded by Rhodri Morgan |
| Preceded by Jenny Randerson (Acting) | Deputy First Minister for Wales 2002 – 2003 | Succeeded by Office Vacant (2003–2007) Ieuan Wyn Jones (2007–2011) |
| Preceded by (new post) | Minister for Rural Affairs and Wales Abroad 2002 – 2003 | Succeeded by (post abolished) |
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